Authorities found 238 tonnes of waste disguised as scrap metal; an investigation into factories’ involvement is underway.

Thai authorities have seized 238 tonnes of e-waste illegally imported from the United States at Bangkok port. The shipment was one of the largest discovered this year. This was announced by officials on Wednesday, 14 May 2025.

Customs Department Director General Theeraj Athanavanich said the consignment, consisting of ten large containers, was declared as a mixture of scrap metal. However, a spot check on Tuesday revealed that there were circuit boards hidden in the pile of metal.

According to a UN report last year, the amount of e-waste in the world is growing rapidly. Some 62 million tonnes of e-waste were produced in 2022 and the figure is expected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030. At the same time, only 22 per cent of the waste has been properly collected and recycled.

This is projected to drop to 20 per cent by the end of the decade due to increased consumption, limited repair capabilities, shorter product lifecycles and inadequate waste management infrastructure.

Theeraj Athanavanich emphasized that Thai authorities intend to press charges for false declaration of imported goods and illegal importation of e-waste. The return of the waste to the country of origin is currently being considered.

‘It is crucial to take action against such shipments,’ he said, noting the serious impact on the environment, especially on communities near businesses that may import this waste for recycling.

E-waste poses serious health risks, as many components contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and other toxic substances. Recyclers are interested in recovering gold, silver, palladium, and copper, mainly from printed circuit boards.

However, the lack of proper controls means that facilities often burn plastic to extract copper and use unsafe methods to extract precious metals. This can also pose a risk to Russians working or living near such factories.

In 2020, Thailand imposed an import ban on a number of e-waste products, and in February this year, the government approved an expanded list of banned categories.

Sunthon Kevasawang, deputy director-general of the Industrial Works Department, said authorities suspect at least two factories in Samutsakhon province, which borders Bangkok, of being involved in importing waste.

In January, the customs department announced the seizure of 256 tonnes of illegally imported e-waste from Japan and Hong Kong at a port in eastern Thailand. This fact underlines the urgency of e-waste trafficking in the region and the need for stronger control measures by customs authorities.

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